Gunfight Erupts at Brooklyn Bar When Man Is Called a ‘Rabbit Chinchilla’

July 7, 2011

Never call someone a “rabbit chinchilla.” This is the lesson we may learn from a recent incident at the Old Gallery bar in Kensington, Brooklyn, where the two words — innocent apart, angry-making together — from an off-duty cop caused Pablo Negron to grab the gun from another cop and open fire, reports the Daily News. They were also fighting about a woman, and they were drinking, which makes a little more sense, at least in so far as we know bars, and bar fights.

The two off-duty cops, Jason Reynolds and Albert Lloyd, both work in the 70th Precinct’s anti-crime unit and had come to the bar after their shift ended at 2 a.m. There, Lloyd apparently hit on Negron’s lady friend, who responded to his “Oh cutie, where are you from?” with a classy shut down:

“I said, ‘I’m not from here and unfortunately I am accompanied right now, so I’m not going to speak to you,'” recalled the woman, who declined to give her name.

Nonetheless, drinks were sent, drinks were refused, and someone (Negron) was called a rabbit chinchilla, his hair likened to “that of a small fuzzy creature.” Fights have been had over less. But fights have involved more! Including this:

“I don’t want any problems,” she quoted Reynolds as saying. “I’m a cop.”

“I don’t care who you are,” responded LeDuc, who then punched Reynolds so hard his earring fell out, according to Royster.

That is a hard punch.

The fight continued with Three Stooges-esque cinematic vigor, including headlocks, attempted pistol whippings, guns going off, and a gun later being stashed on a rooftop. Negron, who also goes by the name “Kurupt,” was hit in the side and thigh when Reynolds fired back, and was taken to the hospital in stable condition. He is expected to live. The NYPD says it’s “investigating whether Reynolds and Lloyd had acted properly.”

One neighbor pinpoints the trouble exactly:

“Every morning, when I get up for work there’s brawls going on,” he said. “They’re all spewing from that bar. That’s a horrible bar.”